Certified
President Arroyo has officially certified the bill creating a Mindanao Economic Development Authority (Meda) to ensure the island-wide planning and coordination of projects.
Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on Mindanao affairs, said Mrs. Arroyo announced this in a private meeting with members of the Mindanao bloc of representatives and senators, Christian bishops, Muslim ulama and business and political supporters, after the President attended the quarterly meeting last week of the Bishops-Ulama Conference (BUC) at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao.
Adoption
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) held public orientation last week on Republic Act 9523 or An Act Requiring the Certification of the DSWD to Declare a Child Legally Available for Adoption. Approved in March 2009, this new law amends Presidential Decree No. 603, the Child and Youth Welfare Code which entails a long process thus delaying immediate placement of children for adoption.
R.A. 9523 mandates DSWD to certify that a child is abandoned through the issuance of a Certification which serves as primary evidence that a child is legally available for adoption. This is the most expeditious proceeding to declare abandoned, neglected or surrendered children legally available for adoption.
Accredit
THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) will again accredit companies that will serve as its third-party service providers that will monitor cargoes in transit using a new technology, which would reduce the requirements but may add cost to the shippers.
According to a draft of a Customs administrative order on the use of global positioning system (GPS), BOC will accredit service providers, which will be allowed to equip transit cargo and their transport carriers with the proper equipment.
Fearful
The city government cannot just clear waterways and structures built above them for fear of another case which may be filed against the canal maintenance chief again. According to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, retired. Col. Yusof Jimlani now fears another clearing of canals might again lead to another case against him and other city officials
Speaker Prospero Nograles filed cases against Duterte and other city hall officials before the Ombudsman for the demolition of a so-called park named after the House chief’s late father Erico Nograles built over a drainage canal in the Salmonan area along Quezon Boulevard.
Prohibition
CITY Hall will be adopting a smoking prohibition policy as announced through a memorandum to all department heads and chiefs of offices. The new policy released by the City Mayor’s Office on October 30 is based on the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) 100 percent Smoke-free Environment Policy dated May 29 this year.
CSC’s policy states that smoking is prohibited in all areas of government premises, buildings and grounds, except for special spaces designated as smoking areas, in order to ensure a healthy body of individuals and a productive workforce.
